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Dig It - Discussions on Gardening Topics
October '24 in the Garden
Season 4, Ep. 15
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October is a wonderful month in the garden - crisp blue skies and fantastic autumn colour to enjoy. DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the month as far as places to visit, what’s in the world of gardening news and timely tasks to be getting on with - so not quite the month to take your foot off the pedal!
What’s on
5th & 6th October, 10am-4pm: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend. Apple identifying with Gerry Edwards, apple pressing and juicing with the Mid Shires Orchard group, a Heritage Apple Display featuring over 100 varieties, Jessica Naish from the Buckingham Cut Flower Farm, a fantastic Tombola, plus The Woodland Trust and BBOWT.
Saturday 5th October: Autumn Plant Fair at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Manchester.
Saturday 12th October, 11am-4pm: National Alpine Garden Show at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens.
26th October - 3rd November: Scarecrow Hunt at Painswick Rococo Garden Trust in Stroud.
News
Giant mosaic made from apples at National Trust Cotehele in Cornwall last month.
Weather concerns could see tulip bulb prices rise by as much as 20% in 2025, Dutch growers warn.
Britain’s rarest orchid discovered after one man’s 15-year hunt.
New rare and endangered plant exhibition opens at Kew Gardens.
Plea to use less herbicides and pesticides in our towns voiced by The Pesticide Collaboration.
Tulip trees as well as storing more carbon are no longer hardwood they are now Midwood! It’s all about the cells, says new study.
Vegetable and flower seed merchant Dobies celebrates 130th anniversary.
‘Delphinium Dad’ efforts rewarded with National Plant Collection status.
Artists set to champion ancient plane tree.
A new garden commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II is to be constructed in London’s Regent’s Park.
Upcycling facemasks left over from the pandemic to cradle developing melons by the team at Bluebird Care in Stroud and Cirencester.
Butterfly numbers drop disastrously reports Butterfly Conservation.
Blenheim Palace introduces bee swarms to its nine new woodlands.
Huge restoration for parklands at Crystal Palace.
New report sheds light on why many plants have prickles.
Dame Mary Berry joins 40th anniversary celebrations of the Macmillan & National Garden Scheme partnership. During the last 40 years the NGS has raised more than £19 million for Macmillan through private garden openings.
David Austin launches Bring Me Sunshine ® as Climbing English Rose.
DIG IT Top 5: Climbing roses
As we approach the root wrap and bare-root season learn about our bestselling roses.
Product mentions: Long handled bulb planters, greenhouse disinfectant, bubble insulation, hedgehog houses, lawn rake and leaf grabbers, bird feeders ready and primed with wild bird mix, sunflowers, peanuts, and fat balls. Evergreen Autumn Fertiliser, and lawn seed for overseeding and patch repair.
Plant mentions: Allium ‘Rosy Dream,’ Taylors Bulb of the Year and Daffodil ‘June Allyson,’ Daffodil of the Year, Dogwoods, Hostas, Salix (Willows), planning for hedges, Garlic, Onions, and Shallots to plant now, pumpkins to harvest and rhubarb propagation - remove healthier outer sections to create new crowns.
Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
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16. Growing a good brew, with Jonathon Jones O.B.E.
01:13:35||Season 4, Ep. 16In this episode of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jonathon Jones, OBE and managing director of Tregothnan Estate in Cornwall, home of the amazing Garden, Camellias, magnificent trees and a Tea plantation stretching 29 miles long!People mentioned: Tea expert Chris Bond, authors Peter Blake and John Shepherd. The Ken Thomas Charitable Trust, a bursary opportunity set up for agriculturists to help fund their trips. Lord and Lady Falmouth, Plant hunter William Lobb, Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (Wardian Case inventor), Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Tremap Partners, Conifer Conservation, Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, Country Life magazine tea column. London Tea Auction and Sarah Raven.Plants mentioned: Camellia sinensis (tea), Camellia japonica, early flowering Camellia sasanqua, Growing salads out of seasons under home-made cloches, Japanese Musa (Banana), Magnolias, Eucryphia is a genus of evergreen shrubs and trees with several species native to Chile. Giant Redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum), Rhododendrons, Black Poplars (Populus nigra) and the recording breaking tallest Rhododendron.Places mentioned: Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Darjeeling, North India, Cornwall Garden Society (they also have a bursary scheme), Eden Project, Jonathon’s scholarship to travel to Japan and it’s great gardens, Falmouth University Japanese Gardens, Myerscough College and the Smithsonian Institution.Tremap® is an easy-to-use free app on your phone which allows people to map and locate trees and shrubs anywhere in the world. It also means that Botanic gardens, parks, large and small private gardens don’t necessarily need to label their rare plants as this can be done virtually. Search ‘Tremap’ on your favourite APP store.Jonathon’s castaway essential: A tried and trusted garden spade!Tregothnan Estate, including Tea, Experiences, Holiday Cottages and Discover.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
14. The Gardening Oracle Chris Day
01:06:00||Season 4, Ep. 14In this edition of DIG IT, Peter Brown turns the microphone around and chats with Chris Day about his life and times working with plants, garden centres, radio, people in horticulture, and even a few greenhouses! From a humble apprentice at Rochfords to plant publicity manager at Buckingham Garden Centre, Chris spills the beans on some of his gardening wisdom along the way. Plant mentions: Aloe Vera, Aspidistra, Basil, Beloperone guttata (shrimp or prawn plant!), Cymbidiums, Sweet peas, lawn turf, Kentia palms, Melon, Pineapple, Tomato, Cucumber, Snake plant, Mother-in-Laws (Sansevieria), African Violets (Saintpaulia), Poinsettias, Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid), Universal Winter Pansies from Colegraves, Cacti, Money plants (Crassula), Chloropytum, Venus Fly Traps and Yuccas. Floral Flame for the Manchester Olympic bid at Manchester Airport created with Begonias, Lobelia, Marigold, Parsley, Perilla, and Impatien). Product mentions: Greenhouse: Corrugated plastic, aluminium (glass to ground), Wooden greenhouse, staging, Victorian style. Paraffin heaters, thermostatically electric fan heater, Garland propagating products, LED grow lights, roller benches, red spider mite pests, pH soil tests and soil science. Wool pots and Mycorrhizal products (RootGrow). People and Place mentions: Amateur Gardening magazine, Alan Beswick, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Three Counties Radio, Blue Peter Garden, Alan Down, Bridgemere Garden World, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Dutch Flower Auctions at Aalsmeer, Graham Clarke, Fred Downham, Rochford Houseplants (commercial growers), Garden Centre Association, Guernsey Flower Show, Horticulture Week, Peter Seabrook, Louise Lear, Peat Free UK houseplant growers, Val Bourne, Myerscough College and Writtle College. Hotbeds, created with strawy manure, and John Innes Compost No3. Chris’s Desert Island luxuries: Felco secateurs and Potato ‘Home Guard’ Chris’s book co-authored with Rob Keenan Amateur Gardening Complete Gardening Answers (published by Robinsons). Catch Chris’s online Garden Centre postings on Facebook and Instagram Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
13. September '24 in the Garden
48:09||Season 4, Ep. 13As autumn approaches DIG IT’s Peter Brown and Chris Day provide a monthly round-up to the latest horticultural events, the gardening stories making the headlines and a look at those garden tasks requiring our attention.What’s on3 - 8th September RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show, Wisley, Woking, Surrey.13 - 15th September The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire27 - 29th September Malvern Autumn Show. One of the UK’s biggest annual harvest season celebrations, held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern Hills, Herefordshire.5 - 6th October Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend, 10am - 4pm each day.NewsJekka McVicar appeals to gardeners to participate in the RHS climate change survey in BBC Breakfast news.Most influential in horticulture by decade survey results: Titchmarsh beats Thrower, Hamilton, Don in vote from Horticulture Week magazine.Broad beans could improve our mental health new study finds.The search is on for the Tree of the Year and voting is open until 21 October.Plant breeder Ball Colegrave announced the winners of this summers showcase.World’s largest Titan Arum bloom in Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium.A new jade vine – Strongylodon juangonzalezii - is donated to Kew Gardens.Kew trees at risk from climate change.Historic allotments in Nottingham handed back to council due to rising costs.Almost 455,000 trees felled by UK councils in past 10 years. World-first project launched to track hedgehogs and reverse decline.Gardening aids better sleep new report uncovers.Knoll Gardens launch new Pennisetum Black Arrow.Dog backpacks used to help seed nature reserve.Sheffield’s love of figs helps create fig tree forests.Dutch campaign encourages reducing paving for greener gardens.Couple transform their garden into £27,000 Jurassic Park - complete with 10ft T-Rex.Our DIG IT Top Tulips 5th ‘Chocolate Orange’ 4th ‘Red Riding Hood’ 3rd ‘Peach Blossom’, 2nd ‘Queen of the Night’ and at number 1 ‘Purple Rain Fusion’ (a combination of different varieties from Taylors Bulbs).Plants mentioned: Acer drummondii, Crocosmia, Dahlias, Hosta, Penstemons and Roses. Apples, Apricots, Blackberries, Peaches and Strawberries. Veggies: Peas, beans, Carrots, Spring Onions, Winter and Spring Cabbage plug plants.Products mentioned: Compost bin, Wolf Fruit Picker, Rose and Autumn Lawn Fertilisers, Lawn seeds and lawn patch products. Control Vine Weevil and lawn chafers or leatherjackets with a biological control (nematodes).Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
12. Interesting Fact: It's Dave the Plantman!
01:04:48||Season 4, Ep. 12Spreading the gardening word with Dave The PlantmanDIG IT hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with top all-round horticulturalist and internet sensation Dave The Plantman. Dave has been creating daily 90 second videos since April 2023 and has a huge 360k following, including a younger gardening audience on TikTok hungry for advice. Dave shares his knowledge in a unique style with his signature thumbs up and ‘interesting fact’ tagline. A lively chat filled with fun anecdotes and plenty of common-sense gardening is guaranteed! Plant mentions: Agapanthus, Astilbe, Buddleja (butterfly bush), Carnivorous plants, Coffee plant, Cordyline, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Dieffenbachia (dumb cane plant), Himalayan Balsam (Impatien), Potatoes, Dandelion, Skimmia, wildflowers, brambles (blackberries), Rose ‘Sheila’s Perfume’, Phalaenopsis orchids, Taxus baccata 'Standishii' (RHS AGM), Good scented rose ‘Chandos Beauty’ and Rose ‘The Chelsea Pensioner’, a charity rose launched at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Willow (Salix) weaving. Alpines for gravel drive. People, Places and Products: Phillip Harkness, Harkness Roses. Myerscough College of Horticulture, Preston, Canal and River Trust, Barton Grange Nursery, RHS flower shows. Sulphur (coal smoke), Garlic infusion for controlling aphids – they don’t like the smell, good for roses and hostas. Tomato food is excellent for roses as is chicken manure and well-rotted manure. Uncle Tom’s Rose Food (Potassium phosphite).Desert island luxuries: Tomatoes (seeds could be saved for future crops). Tool: “A pair of secateurs in my holster.”Memorable quote: “My mum could put a root on a chair leg!”Dave’s socials: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Dave The Plantman’s Chatterbox on Facebook and Instagram.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.11. August '24 in the Garden
59:26||Season 4, Ep. 11Summer gardening reaches it’s peak this month as Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest stories in the world of horticulture, must-visit events and a run-down of those essential tasks to keep your garden productive and colourful in the weeks to come. What’s on 31st July - 4th August: RHS Garden Hyde Hall Flower Show, Essex. 2 - 3rd August: Taunton Flower Show, Somerset.Until 4th August: 2024 Big Butterfly Count – have you got involved yet? There’s still time!3 - 11th August: Singapore Garden Festival at Suntec, Singapore. 9 - 10th August: Shrewsbury Flower Show, Shropshire. 15 - 18th August: Southport Flower Show at Victoria Park, Southport. 16 - 18th August: RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show, Devon. 30th August - 1st September: BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair at Audley End House & Gardens, Essex. NewsNew YouTube short film filmed at the RHS Urban Show in May featuring Cloudscape and creating 7 amazing gardens. Trees for bees at Wakehurst Wakehurst is using citizen science to help discover the trees most favoured by pollinators. A unique flower shaped Cyclamen Illusia picks up top New Houseplant Award. RHS Tatton Park Show celebrates its 25th anniversary by actively promoting awards for new designers, plants people and contractors aged 31 or over. Scottish topiary artist wins major award for their Moby Dick inspired design. Gardeners urged not to plant or purchase Rhodendron ponticum as The Woodland Trust says its invasive nature is creating problems. Native vegetation does no impact insect biodiversity in small urban gardens. Rare ‘Puya sapphire tower’ blooms outdoors in Scotland for the first time. Dianthus breeding specialist Whetman Pink changes hands. War against poaching succulent plants in South Africa. Manchester’s Castlefield aerial garden Viaduct gets green light to develop from National Trust. OBE awarded to Horatio’s Garden founder Dr Olivia Chapple. Rittershausen family orchid nursery celebrate 75 years. Dr John Grimshaw appointed Editor-in-Chief of Curtis’s Botanic magazine. Head of horticulture at Garden Organics and former Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins has been named a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture. Natural History Gardens are now open and free to visit. Olympic Dahlias shine at Paris 2024 games. The 2025 rose of the year is announced. Plants, and product mentions: Hardy geraniums, Chrysanthemum, Lavender, Lupins, Delphiniums, Blueberries, Strawberry, Wisteria Amethyst Falls, Leeks, Potato/Tomato blight proection, Taylors Seed Potatoes for growing for Christmas, Sow the seeds of Basil, Borage, Dill and Fennel, Mint. Summer pruning top fruit trees, dahlias, Lilies and Gladioli staking and feeding. Children seed sowing projects for the school holidays. Cut flowers from the garden. Continue with slug, snails and earwig control. Miracle-Gro, Tomato fertiliser, garden twine and canes. Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
10. Who Ate My Plants, an interview with Andrew Mikolajski
55:51||Season 4, Ep. 10In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with special guest Andrew Mikolajski. Andrew, a well-known horticulturalist, and prolific author of over 40 gardening books, including his latest, ‘Who Ate My Plants’. Andrew discusses the ongoing battle gardeners have with garden pests and diseases.Plant mentions: Grow as many varieties and species – native and non-native from the Northern Hemisphere as you can to increase insect biodiversity of wildlife to help attract predators. Marigolds as a companion planting with Tomatoes and the pairing of alliums with roses. Check vegetable seed packets for disease resilience. Lavender, Penstemon, Fuchsias and Hebes would benefit from a dose of a high potash fertiliser to help toughen them up. Use vine weevil nematode control for Heuchera, Heucherella, alpines and Fuchsias.Product mentions: Slug pellets (use the jam jar method mentioned). Sand, Garlic wash, Box Tree Caterpillar Biological Control, Provanto Fungus Fighter (for Box Blight), Pheromone Traps (codling moth and plum moth), Organic pesticides, fleece over cabbage, good drainage essentials, include sand, potting grit, or Perlite to avoid overwet compost, Potassium (K) High potash fertilisers such as Sulphate of Potash, Tomorite, to help harden growth for the winter. Nematodes for slugs and vine weevil. Ladybird larvae and adults can be introduced.Pest / Disease mentions: Aphids, Slugs, Snails, Muntjak, Deer, Rabbits, Oak Processionary Moth - a notifiable pest, Xylella fasidiosa, Box Blight, Box Tree Caterpillar, Rose Black Spot and Rose Mildew.No Mow May, or maybe simply mow less often to encourage more flowers and diversity.Look for the RHS Plants for Pollinators logo.Make friends with your fellow allotment holders, or join a gardening club / society to learn about local growing conditions if you move into a new area.Judging at RHS show.Andrew’s desert island essentials: A ball of garden twine and a pair of scissors and the Rose ‘Nostalgia.’ Find out more about Andrew on his websiteAndrew’s book, Who Ate My Plants? is published by Michael O’Mara Books Limited.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.9. July '24 in the Garden
59:06||Season 4, Ep. 9This month on DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss the latest gardening news, what’s on’s and as the peak gardening season is well underway, a look at those tasks to keep your garden looking its best this month and beyond.What’s on2 – 7th July: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is held in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, Richmond.12th July and 4th August: The Big Butterfly Count 2024.17 – 21st July: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in Cheshire.20th July: Great Dixter Summer Plant Fair at Great Dixter Gardens, Rye, East Sussex.NewsPlant Heritage will showcase a range of its National Plant Collections, including Kniphofia, Rubus and Hosta (miniature and small) at Hampton Court. New 4-year project by the University of London is evaluating prescribing social pursuits like gardening to children. New garden around the Natural History Museum opens this month.The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don will be out on tour to share tales from his garden at Longmeadow and gardens he has visited around the world.Belinda Howell has been appointed chair of the Peat-free Partnership to establish peat-free legislation across the UK and NI.Susan Raikes is appointed the new Director of Wakehurst at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Nick Bailey, Gardener’s World presenter is appointed director of the University Leicester’s botanic garden.Percy Thrower’s greenhouse, which once featured Shrewsbury’s main park, The Quarry, is to be restored by Shrewsbury Men’s Shed.Bumper year for Box Tree Caterpillar reveals RHS.Be alert for toxic oak processionary moth caterpillars.How to take part in the Great Stag Hunt to help record the UK’s largest, and endangered beetle.Asian Hornets: help needed to irradicate imported bee-killers.The winning plants at last month’s BBC Gardeners World Live Show, include Hydrangea Eclipse and Apple Peter’s Gold. New plant awards annouced at the HTA Show including Digitalis Apple Blossom and Prunus Crystal Falls.This month’s DIG IT top 5: Strawberry varieties. 1st Strawberry ‘Symphony’ 2nd ‘Cambridge Favourite’ 3rd ‘Hapil’ 4th ‘Honeoye’ and in 5th ‘Elsanta’.Plant mentions: Apples (variety Scrumptious), Cherries, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Delphiniums, Euonymus Jean Hugues, Euonymus Green Spire, Pears, Plum, Sweet corn, Yew, Lonicera nitida, fuchsias, Dianthus, Carnations, Purple loosestrife, and Salvia Hot Lips. Sow Foxgloves, Sweet Williams, Wallflowers and Forget-me-nots and veggies including Round Carrots, Beetroot, Radish, Lettuce, and Spring Onions. Continue to plant Tomatoes and Peppers.Product mentions: Bug Clear Ultra 2, Box Tree Caterpillar Killer Nematodes, Poppyforge plant supports, bird food, straw and terracotta pots for earwig control.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.
8. Jessica Naish, Buckingham's best flower farmer
53:21||Season 4, Ep. 8Flowers are big business in Britain over 50% of British households bought cut flowers in 2022. However, according to Defra, only 14% of cut flowers sold in the UK are grown in Britain. In this edition of Dig it Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Jessica Naish who runs a successful local flower farm in Buckingham. In the podcast we discover how Jess has developed her flower farm, plus the practicalities of growing a wide range of cut flowers from the field to the vase.Flowers mentioned: Amaranthus caudatus (Love Lies Bleeding), Centaurea cyanus (Cornflowers), Cosmos, Dahlias, Godetia, Larkspur, Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-mist), Perennial and annual Phlox, Strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Roses (including the Timeless range of roses), Sweet peas, Sunflowers, Ten Week Stocks and Wallflowers.Fragrant foliage: Apple mint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and scented Pelargoniums to add fragrance to bouquets.Bulbs mentioned: Alliums, Gladioli, Lillies, Narcissi and Tulips.Buckingham brew: Nettles and Comfrey tea combo to feed plants organically.Jessica’s major influence is Gill Hodgson, who set up Flowers From The Farm back in 2011. From humble beginnings, its membership is now more than 1,000 independent British growers, of which Jess is a member. The website allows you to search for your nearest local flower farmer.Peach Fuzz, Pantone Colour of the year 2024.Jess’s desert island essentials: Tool - the versatile Hori Hori Knife, plus a couple of plants one of the velvety purple mophead hydrangeas and Geranium ‘Attar of Roses’ famed for its amazing rose scented fragrance.Find out more about Jessica’s flower farm, workshops and pick-your-own hereYou can also follow Jessica on Facebook and InstagramOur thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.